Despite having to withdraw from Tirreno Adriatico earlier this week due to illness, Yates has focussed on his recovery to be able to line-up with the team tomorrow.

The six-day diverse stage race begins at the coast in Calella followed by a team time trial stage before heading to the mountains, reaching an altitude of 1941metres, and eventually returning to coast in Barcelona for laps around the Montjuic hills.

“We have a good mix of riders for this race,” said sport director Neil Stephens. “The boys are really motivated to give the team time trial event a good shake and I think we will be around the mark with the guys we have."

“If we can have a good result there then it will also set us up well for the GC. I think after stage two we will be in a better position to look at the overall.

"We have a team of strong climbers who can get a good result here in Catalunya.”

To assist with the work load and boost the squad for the stage two team time trial event are powerhouses Daryl Impey, Sam Bewley, Alexander Edmondson and Svein Tuft.

“These strong guys can do a good job for the other guys on the hillier days but can also get a handy result themselves in the sprint stages.” Stephens continued.

Last year Impey took his opportunity on the sprint stages where he placed third and fifth and will once again be an option for the team on the ‘few’ flatter finishes.

The 2017 edition of the race is as challenging as ever, with a summit finish on stage three and five along with numerous first category climbs throughout the six-days before the race heads to Barcelona.